Motor-vehicle.



PATENTBD Nov. 28, 1005.-

|NVENTR Willard LOI/A:

W D LOWE MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG. L 1904.

WITNESSES:

l 0W/q ATTORNEYS UNITED srArns PATENT OFFICE;

vlvloToR-VEHICLE.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov'. 28, 1905.

- Application filed December 2, 1904'. Serial No. 235,152.

T0 (all whom; t WwW-concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLARD D. LOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oolumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a -certain new anduseful Improvement in Motor-Vehicle-Axle Construction, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in motor-vehicle-axle constructions.

The object of the invention 1s to 'provide a device of the divided-axle type, wherein the parts are entirely inclosed. within a housing and its extensions, which admits of an, entirely exterior drivel and also allows the axlesections and the compensating gears to turn y in a bath of oil.

A further obj ect of my invention is to pro-l the invention. consists of the novel details of construction and operation7 a preferable emfacilitate the illustration.

bodiment of which is described in thespecification and illustrated in thejaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectional view portions thereof being shown in elevation and the axle-sections being vbroken away to Fig. 2 is a face View of the housing-section carrying the sprocket-ring and showing the'compensating pinionsin section, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of my improved axle construction.

In the drawings, the numerall designates the opposed sections ofthe divided axle.--

The inner lends of the sections 1 are reduced in diameter and bear against the'sides o'f a rectangular` block 2, from the opposite ends of which project vertical trunnions or stubshafts 3. The stub-shafts project to--the outer peripheries of 'connecting-flanges .4, which exten'd from semispherical housingsections 5. The housing-sections 5 are se-l curely held together by bolts 6, which also side thereof and' fixed by means of keys 10 upon the reduced portions of the axle-sections. The gears 9 are formed with laterally-'extending collars-11, which bear against the shoulders 12, formed on the axle-sections. About the axle-sections and abutting the collars 11 I arrange bushings 13, which separatethe axle-sections from tubular or sleevelike extensions 14, xedly secured within the collar portions 15 of the `housing-sections 5, so as to lturn therewith. The sleeves 14 extend from the housing to such a point on the axle-sections as to contact with the hub of the vehicle wheels when theyare placed upon the ends of the said sections. At their outer ends the sleeves 14 are supported and separated from the axle-sections by loose bushings 16, similar to the bushings 13. -Any suitable form of spring-boxes, such as 17, may be disposed upon the sleeves 14 for supporting the vehicle-body,l but it is to be un- .derstood that the boxes must be loose in order that the sleeves 14 may revolve therein.

The operation of my device is as follows Motion being transmitted to the sprocketring 7 and the latter being secured to the housing-sections 5, the same are caused to revolve and likewise the sleeves 14, which are yfixed Withinthe housing extensionsl 15. Motion is transmitted from the housing to the 'axle-sections' 1 'by thev stub-shafts 3, pinions 8, and gears 9. It isfobvious, however, that the axle-sections being separated and having lndependent driving-gears one of said sec- `wheel, thus causing the two axle-sections to revolve atdiil'erent rates of speed. `lt is-to be noted, however, that the sleeves 151 and IOC tions is capable of revolving at a lower or nog the housing-sections 5- still revolve at the same rate of speed irrespective of thel dillerent-cs u1 the revolutlo'n ofthe axle-sections. To compensate for the uneven wear ol" the bearings and gearngs, the shaft 3 may be moved in the recesses in which it is mounted to adjst the bearing-faces of the block 2 With reference to the axle centers.` When adjustment is needed, the bolts in the flanges 4 are loosened and the end'of the shaft 3 gently forcedin the direction required.

A device constructed in .accordance with my invention affords great rotection to the compensating gears and t e axle-sections against dirt and grit, and owing to the fact that the Ihousing-sections 5 are securely fastened together a receptacle isl provided for a bath of oil or other lubricant, which, as is obvious, will travel along the axle-sections and thoroughly lubricate the' parts adjacent thereto. The block 2 will take up all end thrust, thereby relieving the gears and pinions.

Having now fullyy described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi In a device of the character described, the combination with a divided axle of a housing consisting of two parts having outwardlydisposed flanges, a shaft, with an enlarged central portion, secured Within and extending through recesses in said ianges, pinions looselymounted on'said shaft Vhaving their inner faces engaging the enlarged portion thereof, and their outer faces engaging bearing-faces on the interiorsuzfa'ce of the housing, and rgears secured to said axle-'sections meshing with sa'i'd inions.

' @ILLARD' D. LOWE.

In presence of- A. L. PHELPS, M. B. ScH'LEY. 

